Acts 2:3 - An Understandable Version (2005 edition) Then they saw what appeared to be flames of fire shooting down and landing on each one of them. More versionsKing James Version (Oxford) 1769 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. Amplified Bible - Classic Edition And there appeared to them tongues resembling fire, which were separated and distributed and which settled on each one of them. American Standard Version (1901) And there appeared unto them tongues parting asunder, like as of fire; and it sat upon each one of them. Common English Bible They saw what seemed to be individual flames of fire alighting on each one of them. Catholic Public Domain Version And there appeared to them separate tongues, as if of fire, which settled upon each one of them. Douay-Rheims version of The Bible - 1752 version And there appeared to them parted tongues as it were of fire, and it sat upon every one of them: |
“I certainly am immersing you in water following [your] repentance, but the One who follows me [i.e., in my ministry], whose sandals I do not deserve to remove [as His slave], will immerse you people with the Holy Spirit and with fire [i.e., the punishment in hell. See verses 10 and 12].
But Jesus answered him, “Allow it [to be done], for it is proper for us to complete everything that is right [before God].” So, John agreed to it.
Then the two men said to each other, “Were not our hearts stirred up within us [i.e., our emotions thrilled] when Jesus spoke to us along the road and opened up the Scriptures [to our understanding]?”
And during this time Peter stood up to speak to a gathering of about one hundred twenty persons.
Cretans and Arabians. How can it be that we hear [these apostles] speaking about the mighty accomplishments of God in the language of our national origin?”
Suddenly a rushing sound, like a fierce wind blowing, came from the sky above them, and [its noise] filled the entire house where they were sitting.
And they [i.e., the apostles] were all filled with [the power of] the Holy Spirit and began to speak [“the mighty accomplishments of God,” See verse 11] in different languages, as the Holy Spirit gave them the ability.
Another [is given] the ability to perform miracles; and another [is given] the ability to prophesy [supernaturally]; and another [is given] the ability to speak in different languages [supernaturally]; and still another [is given] the ability to interpret those languages [supernaturally].
And the tongue is [like] a fire [i.e., like that spark]. [For] the tongue, as a part of the body, is [like] the world of evil. It corrupts the entire life [of a person] and inflames the course of nature itself [i.e., it affects a person throughout his whole earthly existence], and is ignited by hell itself [i.e., the evil produced by the fiery tongue has hell as its source and destiny].
And I will give [authority] to my two witnesses and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, wearing sackcloth” [i.e., a black, coarse cloth made of goat’s hair].
Then I saw another angel flying in midair. He had eternal good news to proclaim to those who lived on the earth, and to every nation, tribe, language group and race.